The document explores: ‐ the importance of the project for the development ‐ the evidence of scalability ‐ helps to appreciate some practical aspects of why this project should be selected for a follow‐up toward an actual implementation ‐ the ability to communicate the benefits of the work

1. Orange Restricted
D4D Challenge Senegal - Project
document
Executive Summary: Natural disasters like floods have compounded effects on agriculture, which in turn,
result in food insecurity and malnutrition. The Senegalese population is particularly vulnerable to floods due to
existing poverty. We analyzed Data for Development (D4D) Call Detail Records (CDR) datasets to (1) find
statistically significant spatial clusters of areas vulnerable to floods and (2) identify spatial interactions between
call origins and destinations to understand calling behaviors during flooding events.
Relevance for the Development Thematic -“What is your story?”:
Senegal has a population of 13.7 million with 46.7% of the population living in poverty. During the
rainy season, Senegal often experiences extreme flooding events. The combination of high poverty
rates and seasonal flooding make many Senegalese vulnerable to natural disasters and the after effects
of natural disasters. We analyzed Call Detail Records (CDR) datasets to (1) find statistically significant
spatial clusters of areas vulnerable to floods and (2) identify spatial interactions between call origins
and destinations to understand calling behaviors during flooding events. We argue that identifying
spatial interactions during floods using CDRs can help build resilience to natural disasters and related
events such as food insecurity and other flood-related health issues. Ideally, understanding this broader
sequence of interrelated events can lead to better predictability and use of CDRs to identify and
anticipate food security and other shock situations before they occur or mitigate their effects.
Furthermore, understanding such event sequences can lead to improved resilience to disasters and
better decision making for targeted relief efforts like those conducted by Orange.
This document is one of the 3 documents to be submitted to the D4D Challenge Senegal by December, the 31st
2014.
It will be used to appreciate the criteria not normally included in a scientific report and help the committee
appreciate mainly the criteria for the “5 Development Prizes” and the allocation of 3 Grants. It explores:
‐ the importance of the project for the development
‐ the evidence of scalability
‐ helps to appreciate some practical aspects of why this project should be selected for a follow‐up toward an
actual implementation
‐ the ability to communicate the benefits of the work
Name of the project: Visual Analysis on Call Data Records for Improving Disaster Resilience
Reference number:
Theme (Agriculture, Other):
Lead member’s name: Brian Tomaszewski, Ph.D.
Lead member’s e-mail: bmtski@rit.edu
Lead member’s title and institution: Assistant Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology
Team members’ name (for alternative contact):
Team members’ title and institution:
Team members’ relation to the lead:
Useful links: Full Scientific Paper URL:
http://geoapps64.main.ad.rit.edu/d4d2014/RIT_D4D_Senegal_Scientific_Paper_31_December_2014.pdf
Comments: N/A.
C

2. Orange Restricted
What would be your priorities if you wanted to go more in depth in your researches and come
up with a feasible project proposal, by order of importance. Please be synthetic.
Item
Disaster Statistics
Description
Detailed information on specific locations affected by floods in terms
of human displacement and property loss.
Orange Money Transfer Detailed information on whom Orange gave mobile money transfers
to during food insecurity situations and where these people were
located.
Disaster Victim interviews Conduct qualitative analysis on people who have been affected by
floods and what there behaviors are. For example, when floods
occurs, whom do people call and why do they call them? What types
of social and economic support systems exist
High resolution spatial data Detailed Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) for understanding physical
aspects of flooding. For example, identifying low‐level areas in Dakar.
Sub‐national level census
indicators and statistics for
Senegal
Sub‐national level census indicators and statistics for establishing
population characteristic base lines. For example, household
composition, employment status and any other indicators that could
be used for comparing CDR data with areas around specific call
towers. This could help provide further insight in calling behaviors.
Ability to be scaled
If our project was to be scaled, we would need access to relevant disaster management
organizations in Senegal. Such organziations could potentially provide us access to relevant
data sets to validate our findings with CDRs. If we were given additional funding, the
following are recommendations:
1. Further analysis of outgoing calls in and around Koalack, Matam and Theis during flood
events. This could help determine (1) who is being called and why they are being called
during floods for understanding food security and other health issues that arise during the
floods and (2) gaining insight into existing social networks that can potentially be utilized
before, during, and after natural disaster events for building societal resilience.
2. Conduct neighborhood-level disaster resilience studies on area around high call-volume
tower locations during flood events. As previous research indicates, calling patterns can serve
as surrogates for understanding location most vulnerable to floods
3. Compare and investigate if correlations can be found between floods events, food security
situations and mobile cash transfers like those done by Orange in 2013.
Thank you for participating in the D4D Challenge Senegal!